Hello everyone! Welcome to my corner of The Real Underbelly! My name is Mason, and I’m 9 years old. My dream is to have my own weather channel one day and share the coolest weather news with the world! I’m super fascinated by weather, especially tornadoes. Today, I’m going to tell you about a huge, scary storm that hit Joplin, Missouri. I live pretty close to Joplin, so this storm is extra interesting to me. Let’s dive in!

EF5 Monster: The Strongest Tornado

Tornadoes are ranked based on how strong they are, and they go from EF1 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). The Joplin tornado was an EF5! That’s the most powerful tornado can get. Can you believe it? Although there’s a ranking called EF6, no tornado has ever reached that level in human history.

This tornado was a real monster! Imagine a giant, angry snake twisting and turning in the sky. It was so powerful that it lifted houses and cars right off the ground. It was like a big, noisy beast tearing everything apart. Streets were filled with debris, and it looked like a giant, messy puzzle with pieces scattered everywhere.

How the Tornado Hit Joplin

The Joplin tornado struck on May 22, 2011. It wasn’t just any day; it was a Sunday. The tornado formed in the afternoon and hit the town with its full force. People in Joplin did have some warnings about the storm. Meteorologists and weather channels had been tracking the tornado and issued warnings, but the tornado’s strength and sudden development meant that it caught many people off guard.

Most people knew to take shelter, but the tornado was so strong and so wide that it overwhelmed the town’s preparations. The tornado’s winds reached over 200 mph, making it one of the most intense storms ever recorded. The Joplin tornado was over a mile long! Unfortunately, despite the warnings, the sheer force of the tornado made it difficult for people to escape its destruction.

Rebuilding and Helping Each Other

After the tornado, Joplin looked like a disaster zone. Many houses were destroyed, and trees were knocked over. But here’s where the story gets amazing. The people of Joplin came together to help each other. They worked as a big team to find lost pets, fix broken homes, and make sure everyone had food. It was like a real-life superhero squad!

Even though it was very sad that many people got hurt and some lost their lives, the strength and kindness of the people in Joplin showed how powerful community and teamwork can be. They rebuilt thousands of homes and buildings, showing that even after something as terrible as a tornado, hope and rebuilding are possible.

Safety Tips: What to Do During a Tornado

It’s super important to stay safe during a storm. Here’s what you should do if you find yourself in a tornado:

• In a Supermarket: Stay away from glass and move to a small, enclosed interior room as quickly as possible. It’s like a game of hide-and-seek, but with high stakes!
• In a Car: Stay in the car with your seatbelt on. Duck down below the windows and cover your head with your hands or a cushion if you can. If you can get lower than the road, leave the car and lie down, covering your head.
• Outside: Find shelter quickly or lie flat on the ground and cover your head. Trees and flying debris are not your friends!
• In Your Home: The lower you are, the safer you’ll be. Head to a basement, storm cellar, or safe room. If you don’t have one, go to a small, interior room on the lowest floor, like a bathroom or closet. If all else fails, get in the bathtub and hold on for dear life!

Fun Facts About the Joplin Tornado

Did you know these cool (and a bit scary) facts about the Joplin tornado?

• It cost more to repair than the famous Tri-State tornado!
• The tornado was up to a mile wide and left a damage path that was 22 miles long. That’s like a really long, very angry snake!
• Winds in the tornado were over 200 mph. That’s faster than a Formula 1 race car!
• There was a cat that was buried in rubble for 6 days and it survived! That’s one lucky cat with a few more lives left!

Why Tornadoes Are Fascinating (and a Little Scary)

Tornadoes are like nature’s wild roller coasters. They can be incredibly destructive but also teach us a lot about weather. It’s important to understand how they work and what to do to stay safe. And even though they’re really powerful, they show us the incredible strength of people coming together.

I hope you enjoyed learning about the Joplin tornado. Remember, it’s always important to be prepared and stay safe during storms. And who knows? Maybe one day I’ll be on my very own weather channel, reporting on all kinds of exciting weather stories!

Sources for more info:

Wiki Joplin Tornado

Joplin Tornado Quick Facts

Thanks for reading my blog! Stay curious and stay safe! – Mason